Apparatus for cementing wells



Feb. 9, J1937. H. E. Houcalv-l APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELLS Filed April 15, 193e zsheets-'S'heet '1' i ET E INvENToR ATTORNEY Feb. 9, 1937. H. E. HoUGH 250705363 APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELLS Filed April 15, 195e 2 sne't-snget z INvENTo R *Patented Feb. a '1937 UNITED 4 STATES .eA'rENT orifice .APPARATUS Foa` cEMENmG WELLS mooie n. noun, Fairmont, w. vs. Ammann aprus, 1930, saca No. 14,488

10 claims. (ci, 10e- 10)` .This invention relates to apparatus for cementing wells.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device whereby a quick-setting cementi- 5 tious material in a liquid or semi-liquid state may be lowered into an oil or gas well to a point where the wall of the wll has caved in or become ruptured, the cement `being released and :discharged from the device under pressure at the predetermined point of cave-in in thewell so that the cement may be sprayed therefrom, impinge and become 4lodgedagaiust the caving surface to a predetermined, substantially uniform, thickness for forming a lining for the ruptured on slipping .15 portion which, when hardened or set, serves as during lowering or elevating movements of the device in the well.

- A still further object of the invention is toprovide a device of the character mentioned which may be economically manufactured; inexpensive to repair, and which maybe readily cleaned following use.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts which will hereinafter be fully descrilfed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in

which-'- Figure 1 ls a vertical sectional view of a well illustrating the device positioned in a cave-in 40 and the parts. of the device".being depicted in cement-spraying relation; Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device, the parts being depictedin non-discharging relation; Figure 3 is atop plan detailview of the latch tripping member;

Figure 4 is a side elevational viewof the same Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the latch mechanism adapted to normally maintain the discharge ports Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8'8,`Fig. 5.

Referring to said drawings, the lreference numeral 2 designates the head of the device consisting of. a hollow cylindrical section of pipe which 5 is designed to be detachably connectedto aalength of pipe or a well bailer 3 by means of the coupling 4, the pipe 3, which may be' of any predetermined lengthor capacity, serving as a hopper or reservoir for containing the supply or l0 charge of cementitious material. A carrying bail 5 is pivotally attached to the upper open end of the hopperV 3 and is designed to receive a length of cable by means of Jwhich the apparatus is raised and lowered in thewell casing 35. 15

Depending downwardly from the bottom 6 of the head 2 is a tube 'I, the same being closed at its lower end by a weighted stopper ball 8 maintained in place by the pin 9, the tube 1, as will hereinafter be made manifest, serving as a dis- 2o charge nozzle for the cement. Lateral discharge ports III are provided in the tube Tat diametrical opposite points approximately midway of its length, although the number and position of said ports may be-varied.'

Slidable on .the nomic tube 'I is a sleeve I3, said sleeve having an --annular-ange I4 formed 'on its upper end and portsl I5 in the side wall similar to the ports I0. v

Threadedly received in the bottom 6 of the 30 head 2 are the upper ends of two downwardly depending pins I6. Said pins I6 penetrate vertical apertures provided therefor in the sleeve flange Il, and each of said pins is encircled by opposed spiral compression springs 'I-1, one such spring 35 being interposed between the flange Il and bottom 6, .and the other being interposed between the iiai'ige Il and the retaining nut I8. 'Ihe springs, as above stated, oppose each other and are of equal strengthl and are designed so that the pres- 40 sure exerted by the upper and lower springs on the flange ll is equalized. thus to maintain the Lports Ill of the nozzle tubefl and the ports I5 of the sleeve I3 in registering aligned discharging relation, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7 of the 45 drawings.

Also slidable.y on the nozzle tube 'I at a spaced distance below the sleeve I3 is a collar I9, said collar being connected to the annular flange I4 of the sleeve i3 by means of radially spaced bowed 50 leaf springs 20, the opposite ends of the springs being received within recesses 2| provided therefor in the peripheries of the flange I4 and collar I9. Pins 22 secured by cotter pins retain the springs in place.

.against the tension of the two upper springs Il.

The latch member 23 is maintained in inward flange-engaging position by means of a fiat spring 26 interposed between the latch and an integral shield 21 depending from the head 2.

Trip mechanism for predeterminedly releasing the locking mechanism consists of a vertically extending trip lever 28 slidably received and supported within appropriate recesses 2l of I the flange i4 and collar I9,'pins 29 maintaining said trip lever 28 in position in said recesses.- Formed integral with the upper extremity of the lever 28 is an angularly disposed dog 30 designed toV occupy a position intermediate the latch 23 and the nozzle tube l. Spaced lugs 32 are formed integral with the upper extremity of .the lever and extend outwardly thereof to receive therebetween the upper end of a bowed leaf spring 20' (identical in construction with the springs 20), the lower end of said spring being rigidly attached to the lower end of the lever, as shown at 33.

In practice, the sleeve I3 is elevated against the tension of the two upper compression springs I1 to a point where the latch 23 engages the flange M, thus to position the ports l and I5 in non-registering and non-spraying relation, the latter being disposed above the plane of the former, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Thus, no cement can be discharged from the nozzle tube l. A quantity of an appropriate cementitious material in a suitable liquid state is introduced into the reservoir 3 and thereafter the device is lowered into thewell by the cable attached' to the bail 5 until the spraying device reaches the point of cave-in 34. At this point it is now desired to discharge the cement, and discharge thereof is accomplished by elevating the device a distance wherein the bowed leaf spring 20 frictionally engages the restricted and smaller well casing 35. Further elevation of the device is resisted by the leaf springs 2U and 20' and as the latter contacts the well casing 35, it is depressed and, in turn, depresses the trip lever 28'to a point where its dog 30 forces the latch 23 out of locking engagement with the ilan'ge I4. Thus, the tension bfthe spiral compression springs H- is permitted vto b e equalized thereby i permittingv the discharge ports to assume aligned spraying relation for allowing discharge of the cement.

The imposed weight of the cement in the reservoir results in considerable pressure at the ports so that the cement is sprayed with considerable velocity or pressure-against the surface of the cave-in and tenaciously adheres thereto for effecting a lining of cement and preventing further objectionable slippage. As above stated, the cement is preferably quick setting so that it hardens with rapidity: f

The device is preferably rotated and vertically reciprocated in the cave-in by means of the suspending cable inv order that the entire surface ofthe cave-in may receive an adequate coating of cement.

After a sumcient coating ofcement is applied, the device is withdrawn upwardly througl the well through the casing 35. When the device during elevation enters the vcasing y35 the leaf springs 20 and 28 frictionally engage the dening wall and offer resistance to elevating movement. The resistance exerted by the leaf springs is insumcient to prevent continued elevation, but

it is suflicient to overcome the tension of the two' that various changes may be made in the form,F`

construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the 'spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

What is claimed isl 1. In a device of the character described, a reservoir for a quantity of cementitious material, a

nozzle leading from said reservoir, a discharge port in said nozzle, a sleeve slidable on said nozzle and having a port, and spring means connecting said nozzle and said sleeve for normally maintaining said ports in registering and discharging alignment.

2. In a device of thev character described, a reservoir for a quantity of cementitious material, a nozzle leading from saidreservoir, av discharge port in said nozzle, a sleeve slidable on said nozzle and having a port, spring means connecting said reservoir and said sleeve for maintaining said ports in aligned' discharging relation, and locking means suspended from said reservoir engageable with said sleeve upon upwardmovement of the sleeve on said nozzle whereby said ports may be maintained in non-alignedand non-discharging relationv against tension exerted by said spring's.

3. In a device of the character described, a reservoir for a quantity of cementitious material, a nozzle leading from said reservoir, .adischarge port in said nozzle, a sleeve slidable on.

said nozzle and having a port, spring means c`onnecting. said reservoir and said sleeve for maintaining said ports in registering and discharging alignment, locking means suspended from said reservoir engageable with said sleeve upon 'upward movement of the sleeve on said nozzle whereby said ports may be maintained in nonregistering relation against tension exerted by. said springs, and release mechanism borneby,

said nozzle and having av port, spring means connecting said reservoir and said sleeve for maintaining said ports in registering and discharging alignment, locking means engageable with said sleeve in its elevated position on said nozzle whereby said ports may be maintained in non-v registering relation against tension exerted by said springs during lowering of the device into the well, tripping mechanism borne by said device whereby the locking means may be predeterminedly disengaged and rendered inoperative for permitting said ports to assume registering relation, and resilient means independent of said first mentioned spring means frictionally engageable with the well casing whereby the sleeve is moved downward on the nozzle and said ports are made to assume non-registering relation during withdrawal of the device from the well.

5. In a device for spraying the interior of wells consisting of a reservoir for the material to be sprayed, adischarge tube depending downwardly from said reservoir and having lateral discharge ports, a sleeve having lateral ports and received about and slidable upon said tube, an annular flange formed about the periphery of said sleeve,

and opposed equalized compression springs extwo sets of ports in registering and discharging aligned relation.

6. In a device for spraying the interior of wells consisting of al reservoir for the material to be sprayed, a discharge tube depending downwardly from said reservoir and having lateral discharge ports, a sleeve having lateral ports and received about and slidable upon said tube, an annular flange formed about the periphery of said sleeve, opposed equalized compression springs exerting a uniform pressure on the upper and lower surfaces of said sleeve ange for maintaining the two sets of ports in aligned and spraying relation, and a latch member pivotally suspended from a fixed portion of the device and engageable with said flange whereby said ports, following upward movement of said sleeve on said tube, may be maintained in non-registering relation against tension exerted by certain of the compression springs.

7, In a device for spraying the interior of wells consisting of a reservoir for the material to be sprayed, a discharge tube depending downwardly from said reservoir and having lateral discharge ports, a sleeve having lateral ports and received about and slidable upon said tube, an annular flange formed about the periphery of said sleeve, opposed equalized compression springs exerting a uniform pressure on the upper and lower surfaces of said sleeve flange for maintaining the two sets of ports-in aligned and spraying relation, a latch member pivotally suspended from a fixed portion of the device and engageable with said flange whereby said ports, following upward movement of said sleeve on said tube, may be maintained in non-registering relation against tension exerted by certain of the compression springs, and release mechanism including a wedge trip dog engageable with said latch member upon actuation whereof the latch may be disengaged from said flange for permitting the sleeve to slide downward on the tube forpositioning said ports in aligned and spraying relation.

-8. In a device for spraying the interior of wells consisting of an elongated reservoir for the material to be sprayed, a discharge tube depending downwardly fromsaid reservoir and having `lateral discharge ports, a sleeve having lateral ervoir and encircled by opposed equalized compression springs exerting a uniform pressure on a contacting portion of the sleeve for maintaining the two sets of ports in registering aligned and spraying relation, a collar embracing said tube and spaced at a distance from said sleeve, a latch member pivotally suspended from a xed portion of the device and engageable with said sleeve, when the latter is moved upwardly onsaid tube, whereby said ports may be maintained in non-registering relation against the tension of 4certain of said compression springs during lowering movement of the device in the well, release mechanism consisting of a wedge trip dog engageable with said latch member whereby upon actuation thereof the latch may be disengaged from said sleeve for permitting said sleeve to slide downwardly on said tube and to permit said ports to assume registering discharge relation at a predetermined point in the well, and bowed leaf springs connecting said collar and said sleeve having an axial diameter greater than the diameter of the well and adaptedto frictionally resist elevating movement of said device in the well for moving said sleeve and said collar downwardly on the tube for positioning said ports again in non-registering relation during elevation of the device from the well.

9. In a device for spraying the interior of wells consisting of a reservoir for the material to be sprayed, a nozzle leading from said reservoir, a discharge port in said nozzle, a sleeve slidable on said nozzle and having a port similar to the port of said nozzle and in registering alignment therewith, resilient means extending outwardly from said sleeve and frictionally engageable with the well casing during vertical movements therein whereby said sleeve may be moved along said nozzle for a limited distance for affecting the relative positions of said ports to each other, and opposed equalized compression springs suspended from said reservoir exerting a uniform pressure on a contacting portion of the sleeve for maintaining said ports in registering relation in the absence of frictional engagement of said resilient means with the well casing.

10. In a device for spraying the interior ofwells consisting of a reservoir for the material to be sprayed, a nozzle leading from said reserslidable on said nozzle and having a port similar to the port of said nozzle and in registering alignment therewith, resilient means extending outwardly from said sleeve and frictionally engageable with the well casing during vertical movements therein whereby said sleeve may be moved along said nozzle for a limited distance for affecting the relative positions of said ports to each other, opposed equalized compression springs suspended from said reservoir exerting a uniform pressure on acontacting portion of the sleeve for maintaining said ports in registering-relation in the absence of frlctional engage-- ment of said resilient means with the well casing, and resilient means attached to a ixed portion of said device and engageable with said sleeve when the latter is moved along said nozzle toward the reservoir to maintain said ports iii non-registering relation.

^ HAROLD E. HOUGH.

5() voir, a discharge port in said nozzle, a sleeveA 

